Titans sue Lane Kiffin, Volunteer State rejoices

Posted on: July 26, 2010 6:49 pm

Jeff Fisher wasn’t kidding when he said he was disappointed with the way Lane Kiffin went about hiring Titans running back coach Kennedy Pola to the position of USC offensive coordinator. Fisher was upset that Kiffin hired Pola then called the Titans only after the fact to tell them what he had done.

Now, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean, the Titans have filed a lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court against USC and Kiffin for “maliciously interfering with the contract of running backs coach Kennedy Pola”. The lawsuit claims Pola breached his contract with the Titans after being induced by Kiffin. Pola was hired by the Titans in January.

You have to imagine the state of Tennessee loves seeing the Titans play hardball against the reviled Kiffin. There are probably more than a few people within the NFL who don’t mind seeing Kiffin get sued. Fisher is one of the more respected figures in the NFL (he’s a leader on the Competition Committee).

The lawsuit does not specify an amount of financial damages, and the Titans apparently do not attempt to force Pola to remain employed by the Titans. In cases of this nature, damages would be determined by tabulating the actual losses incurred by the Titans in having to scramble to replace Pola. Punitive damages also could be available, but they would be limited by the actual damages, which could be minimal, frankly.